If you can't stand the heat, get out of the city. OR DON'T. Lidos had their heyday in the 1930s but then went through a bit of a tough time when people started travelling abroad for hols. Now, with a bit of support and funding, they're making a comeback. Here's where to dive in.
Tinside Lido, Plymouth
It's one of the most lavish Art Deco lidos you'll find in the UK – striped lanes, a central fountain and views over Plymouth Hoe and Smeaton's Tower. Originally built in 1935, the lido underwent a whopping £3.3 million makeover in 2003 to restore it to its former glory. Damn fine it is, too. visitplymouth.co.uk
Clifton Lido, Bristol
One of the swankier lidos you'll find, Bristol's lido is set in the heart of the historic neighbourhood of Clifton. A restored Victorian building surrounds the pool and there's a spa with bespoke own-brand massage oils. You'll eat well, too: in 2013 the restaurant was voted runner up Best UK Restaurant in the Observer Food Monthly Awards. lidobristol.com
Jesus Green Pool, Cambridge
100 yards long and 15 yards wide, this lido on the River Cam is one of the longest in Europe. There's a grassy sunbathing spot and snack bar, and in September you can float on the pool in a wooden boat, watching films as part of Cambridge Film Festival. It's so cherished by locals that one amateur director even made a film about it, highlighting the lido's summer cycle – from being drained, to scrubbed to refilled. A box office hit, surely. cambridge.gov.uk
